A lot of my comedy ideas begin with observation. I might notice something at work that seems ironic or illogical, such as a policy that does not make much sense. I have always had a natural sense of sarcasm. Even as a child, I was the class clown, often mocking the teachers when they left the classroom.
Once I have an idea, I look for a theme that fits it. Some kinds of humor can work in many different situations, while others only fit one or two themes. I also have favorite characters I return to often, especially Jerry and Jerome.
Jerry and Jerome, the Comedy Duo
Jerry was the first character I created in DAZ Studio. I liked him so much that I was inspired to create more characters. Jerry and Jerome became one of my favorite combinations. Jerry often plays the straight man, while Jerome is more naive and childlike. Their interactions have something in common with old-style comedy duos such as Laurel and Hardy or Abbott and Costello, but they are cartoon characters in my own worlds.
Choosing the Setting
I have several themes I focus on because they tend to get the best reactions and have been requested by followers. These include Nathaniel Goone and Mongo, the Doughboys, the Jesterman Family, the Punksters punk rock band, and the PsychotiCorp widget factory.
I usually have three to five sets for each theme. Most skits could take place in any of them, so I like to change locations to give each short a fresh look. Nathaniel Goone and Mongo might be in their cabin in one skit, outside the cabin in the next, or at a campsite by the river. Sometimes, though, a location is essential to the story. One skit has Mongo burning down the cabin, so the scene takes place outside while the cabin is on fire. Another is about Mongo failing to patch up the canoe, which takes place at a riverside campground.
Creating a new set can take several hours or even a full day. An outdoor set needs trees, for example, while a medieval village needs several buildings in the right style. I check how a set looks from different camera angles and adjust props if necessary. Once it is finished, I can use it again and again.
From Script to Animation
I finish the skit before I open iClone. My production routine follows the same order each time. First, I write the dialogue. Then I open iClone, load the set, and place and pose the characters.
Next, I generate text-to-speech audio files for the dialogue and assign each one to the right character. I always use the same voice for each character. I want each one to have a consistent look, personality, and voice. When I add a speech file in iClone, the program automatically lip-syncs the character, and I can set the eyes to blink automatically.
Timing the Performance
I begin with a camera view that is a little distant from the characters. This gives viewers a wider look at the area around them. Then I move in on the first character who speaks. At 30 frames per second, I usually wait about 15 frames after the camera change before the character speaks. That gives viewers about half a second to see who is about to talk.
I time expressions as well. If the next character is going to speak angrily, I change his expression five frames after the camera cuts to him. His dialogue begins ten frames after the cut. After a line, I give the scene a brief beat before cutting to the next character. Those small pauses and changes help the exchange feel more natural.
Finishing the Short
I try to do the whole skit in iClone because adding a separate video editing step would take considerably more time. Keeping the process streamlined helps me produce more shorts. Once the skit is complete, I render two versions: a 9:16 version for phone viewing and a 16:9 version for long-form compilation videos.
I use a video editor when I make compilations. I put several shorts together and add credits. After rendering each short, I watch it closely to check for errors. Then I can add the finished video to my library, where it is ready to share on its own or use in a future compilation.
The procedure has become a system of habit. Reusable sets and a consistent order of steps simplify production and help me work faster. I would encourage other creators to build reusable assets and a repeatable routine, too. It can make the process of creating videos much easier.
Bob Craypoe
Founder of Craypoe Productions®
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